The new Volvo FH from Volvo Trucks beat thousands of international products and impressed a panel of design experts to win one of the prestigious If product design awards. Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) was also awarded for the design of its ECR88D short swing radius compact excavator.
The If product design awards recognize outstanding design achievement and have been doing so for more than 60 years. Only the very best designs in 17 categories were selected by the international jury. This year 3,249 products were entered from around the world.
Design identity of the Volvo FH
The new Volvo FH was awarded the prize in category 1: transportation design and special vehicles. The evaluation criteria included design quality, degree of innovation, environmental impact, functionality and safety.
“This award represents several years of hard work and it is a tribute to the creativity and innovative spirit we have at Volvo Trucks,” says Rikard Orell, Design Director at Volvo Trucks.
With fuel-saving technology, efficient ergonomics, superior handling and passive and active safety features, the new Volvo FH has been built to set new standards in the trucking industry while embodying the Volvo heritage. “When creating the new Volvo FH, a great deal of emphasis was placed on the design and emotional aspect of the truck – something that isn’t usually given a high priority in commercial vehicle design,” continues Rikard. “This has resulted in a truck that is both an emotionally and practically satisfying vehicle to work and rest in.”
Redesign of compact excavator
The ECR88D machine – which is designed for use in confined areas – was also awarded in category 1: transportation design and special vehicles.
“We are extremely proud that the ECR88D has been awarded this globally-recognized mark of outstanding design quality,” says Stina Nilimaa Wickström, Design Director at Volvo CE. “The ECR88D is one of the first excavators from the new Volvo design generation and represents a complete redesign of a Volvo machine. It is fantastic that the updated design identity has been recognized by one of the largest, most distinguished design competitions in the world.”
The ECR88D features a narrow body design, centrally positioned boom and compact superstructure which allows the rear of the machine to swing within its track shoe. This allows the excavator to get extremely close to objects without the risk of collision with the rear of the machine as it swings.
Around 2,000 guests from the world of international design, media, business and politics participated in the celebrations at the If Award ceremony in Munich, Germany on February 28.
